Susan Embert sentenced to life without parole for murder of husband after decade-long legal battle

Written by: A. Smith

Published February 9, 2026 @ 12:00 PM ET

DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. – More than a decade after William “Jake” Embert was found dead in his home, a Dougherty County judge has sentenced his wife to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Superior Court Judge Victoria Johnson sentenced Susan Embert to life without parole for Jake Embert’s murder, plus an additional five years for a firearms conviction. The sentence follows a jury’s unanimous guilty verdict on Jan. 16, when Embert was convicted on all counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The sentencing hearing was emotional and, at times, confrontational, as Judge Johnson heard victim impact statements from Jake Embert’s children, sister, nieces, and other loved ones. Several family members asked the court to impose the harshest sentence allowed by law, describing the lasting pain caused by Embert’s death and the years-long legal process that followed.

“She is scum of the earth, a liar, a thief, a murderer,” Jake Embert’s son, Will Embert, told the court. “You do not deserve to walk freely on this earth.” He added that while the death penalty was not an option, he believed life without parole was the only appropriate sentence.

Jake Embert’s sister, Yvonne Magnus, also spoke, saying the sentence brought a sense of finality from a legal standpoint, even though the family remains permanently scarred. When asked afterward what she saw in Susan Embert’s eyes during sentencing, Magnus replied simply, “Nothing.”

Susan Embert’s defense team attempted to delay sentencing, filing a motion to continue the proceedings, but Judge Johnson denied the request. Defense attorneys also objected to portions of victim impact statements that referenced lab testing and poisoning theories excluded from the most recent trial. Despite those objections, the judge allowed sentencing to move forward.

Susan Embert’s family asked for a lesser sentence of life with the possibility of parole. Defense attorneys reiterated that they plan to file appeals, though members of Jake Embert’s family said they are confident the conviction will stand, crediting Judge Johnson’s strict reliance on case law throughout the proceedings.

“From a judicial aspect, this is the finality of justice,” Jake Embert’s daughter, Rachel Embert, said. “From a human aspect, we’re forever broken. Justice for Jake.”

The case dates back to June 28, 2014, when William “Jake” Embert was found dead from a gunshot wound inside the couple’s Dougherty County home. Susan Embert initially told investigators her husband died by suicide. A grand jury indicted her the following year on multiple charges, and she was convicted in her first trial in 2019.

In February 2024, that conviction was dismissed due to speedy trial and juror issues, and Embert was released from jail. The Georgia Supreme Court reversed that dismissal in June 2025, sending the case back for retrial. A second trial ended in a mistrial in December 2025 after a witness referenced excluded testimony. The third trial concluded in January 2026 with a guilty verdict that led to Wednesday’s sentencing.